Knowledge base SmartGridView baffles GreenBeat 2010 judges, audience

SmartGridView is marketing itself as a service that brings together experts to discuss intelligent power grids, and packages that knowledge for the rest of the world to see. But the attendees at the GreenBeat 2010 conference in Palo Alto, Calif. weren’t quite sure what the company actually did.

The actual knowledge base uses a flash interface to visualize the information in a “view” customized for each individual, said SmartGridView founder Larry Wilson.. The views are essentially concept maps that bring together a number of topics that users can quickly access and get information from cleantech industry leaders.

The actual product is a desktop application that produces reports and simplifies the immense amount of information on the Internet and across the entire cleantech industry for everyday consumers and industry leaders, he said.

“We’re glad there was a none-of-the-above option when we applied,” Wilson said. “We basically offer some beefed up concept maps so we can influence the influencers.”

But that wasn’t necessarily a clear explanation for what they do — even one of the judges was compelled to ask what kind of service SmartGridView was actually offering to potential cleantech consumers.

SmartGridView is one of ten companies selected to participate int he Innovation Competition at GreenBeat 2010.